Vehicle - THE IDES OF MARCH***

Vehicle/Factory Band/The Sky Is Falling/Home/Wooden Ships-Dharma For One/Bald Medusa/Aire Of Good Feeling/Time For Thinking/One Woman Man/Symphony For Eleanor

Vehicle was the debut and most commercially successful album from the Chicago jazz-rock ensemble The Ides of March, its commercial appeal boosted by the US No. 2 title track hit. (US:55)

“It's a shame they (d)evolved into a horn rock band. Without the horns, they would actually be quite good. But they are good enough to carry them through in most instances anyway. The soul flavour they impart dilutes the otherwise hard rock sound that forms the foundation of the record.”

“They were another horn band in the style of Blood, Sweat & Tears and Chicago, which poses the question of the need for another such band as this. Both Home and One Woman Man are horribly sappy ballads of the worst kind.”

“In the glory days of horn-driven rock bands, The Ides of March were probably the most underrated and least appreciated of all the groups in that genre. Originally, they were more of a Sixties garage-band, but by 1969 they added some trumpets and a sax, and it was a whole new sound for them.”

“Each song is full of life and the ballads are beautiful such as Home which delivers an emotional message that sends shivers down one's spine. Factory Band is a fun rocker that gets your feet stomping, and that's followed by The Sky Is Falling which really shows off the powerful horn section. One Woman Man is another beautiful ballad.”

“Quality is a little patchy but overall this is a good solid effort. If you are a fan of the great horn driven groups of the late 60s and 70s like Chicago and Blood Sweat & Tears, you'll enjoy this.”

“When this record was being put together, Vehicle had climbed rapidly to the No. 2 spot on the national charts. The rest of songs are mostly in the same vein stylistically. The final track, Symphony For Eleanor is a musical tour-de-force, probably the most experimental of all, with lengthy instrumental indulgences and an overall fast sound.”